If you live in the hustle and bustle of Kuala Lumpur, you’d understand how precious time with our loved ones can be. Minus the time you’re at work, the hours you’re stuck in the traffic jam, and then prepping for dinner; what are you left with? An hour of quality time with your babies before you say goodnight to them? Not a lot of time when we’re constantly working five days a week and sometimes even on the weekends.

Alila’s Sky Lobby

This is why I find going on a little getaway every once in a while such a necessity. It doesn’t necessarily need to be out of town, in fact you’ll find a number of places that are perfect for a staycation right here in the city. Staycations are a great way to take you out of your routine and give you quality bonding time with your little family(especially if you’re living with your in-laws or extended family).

My boys and I recently stayed at the newly opened Alila Bangsar. Located right in the heart of Bangsar, the hotel occupies the topmost floors of a mixed-used development known as The Establishment. We were greeted at the hotel’s sky-level lobby on the 41st floor and was instantly amazed by the beautiful view from its wide and fully glassed windows. Filled with natural light and fresh greenery, I could tell that the hotel was an environmentally conscious one- and I was right.

Alila Living Room

Free flow of drinks and snacks

As we were escorted to our designated floor, we soon learnt that Alila has a dedicated butler service in the Alila Living Room located on every guest room floor. The living room was filled with free-flowing munchies and refreshments including coffee and tea. They even have an assortment of pastries and some mini packets of nasi lemak during the mornings!

Our Room

We stayed in the Deluxe Studio, a comfortable and spacious room with a sofa and a four-seated dining table. What I loved most about it was the huge bathroom and not to mention the floor-to-ceiling windows that fills the room with natural light (great for Instagram photos!). We also requested for a baby cot and was glad that they have it all ready and made-up the moment we entered the room.

Don’t be surprised if you don’t find any amenities like toothbrushes, shower caps and so on. As I said, they’re environmentally- conscious, so no wastage here! But if you do need anything, you’re just a call away from getting what you need. I even requested for some cellophane tape and scissors (I needed to wrap some gifts) and they were very accommodating!

Location

Ground Floor Lobby- LRT Bridge

Unfortunately, this mummy still had to work that weekend. But what’s great about staying in Alila Bangsar is the close proximity to shopping, dining and entertainment hubs. It is also conveniently linked to the Bangsar LRT station, which makes it easier to travel without having to drive through the busy traffic. You can easily take the train to KL Sentral or KLCC or maybe even Grab your way to Mid Valley Megamall, Bangsar Village and lots more. It took us just 15 minutes to get to my work event- no hassle whatsoever!

Dining

Breakfast at Entier- With a few sets to choose from and a buffet line.

With a baby or toddler, you know that there is no such thing as a sleep-ins, although I would have loved to cuddle up longer in the king size bed among the fluffy pillows- it was breakfast at 7.30am for us at Entier on the 41st floor. We had a selection of Western, Chinese, Indian, Malay and vegetarian to choose as our mains for breakfast, accompanied by a buffet station with pastries, fruits, cereal and juices. Just so you know, Chef Masashi Hirouchi is the mastermind behind Entier who was the Chef at the 2 Michelin-starred L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in London for five years. Entier has an avant-garde approach to fine dining, so you may want to experience lunch or maybe even dinner there too.

Credit: Botanica + Co At Alila Bangsar

As for lunch, we made reservations at Botanica + Co, a place for hearty and wholesome dining, located on the ground floor. They’re constantly full, so making reservations is an absolute must! Else, you could also opt for room service, because they’re the ones preparing your dine-in-room selection as well. Food was delicious and the portions are quite big too!

Swimming Pool

Swimming pool on the 40th floor

Alila Bangsar’s swimming pool is located on the 40th floor, and is one of the highlights of our stay here. We absolutely loved the luxurious loungers overlooking the city skyline together with its tropical-style landscaping. It’s a great place to just relax, read a book and indulge in a light swim. If you’re feeling hungry- as most people do after swimming- you can always enjoy refreshing beverages and yummy snacks using fresh and house-made ingredients at The Pool Bar.

Overall, the hotel definitely has a luxurious and elegant feel to it, which sometimes makes you wonder if it’s a suitable place to bring your kids. But you’ll be surprised (as was I) at how many families with young children actually come here during the weekends and holidays. With the spacious room, free-flow of snacks in the Alila Living Room, stunning views, and delicious food, it’s no wonder why this 5 months old hotel is making waves as one of best hotels to stay in, whether it’s for a family staycation, a romantic getaway or just a place to relax in.